21st-Century operations by a cutting-edge Navy and the Royal Marines demand state-of-the-art aircraft. The men and women of the Fleet Air Arm – the Royal Navy’s aerial wing – fly some of the world’s most advanced aircraft.
Aircraft
814 Naval Air Squadron
814 Naval Air Squadron is better known throughout the Royal Navy as 'The Flying Tigers' due to its distinctive badge. The Squadron currently operates the world's leading Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopter, the Merlin HM Mk1 from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.
Embracing the Squadron’s motto: ‘In hoc signo vinces’ (meaning ‘In this sign you will conquer’), 814 NAS is a high readiness, globally deployable unit tasked with flying from ships and/or air bases around the world to provide protection to the Fleet from surface and sub-surface threats, or to support maritime security operations. If required, The Flying Tigers can also be called upon for search and rescue (SAR) and the transportation of stores, equipment and personnel to ships, submarines and to locations ashore.
The focus for The Flying Tigers in 2012 was in support of the Maritime Security Plan for both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games. Merlin helicopters were patrolling the skies over Weymouth Bay, providing surveillance and a Maritime Stop capability (with a Royal Marine sniper team carried inside the aircraft). Commencing live operations on the day of the Opening Ceremony, almost 300 hours were flown in support of Dorset Police, a noteworthy contribution to safe, secure and successful sailing events.
Operations
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Wildcat and Swordfish Lead Air Day's All-Star Flypasts24/05/2013
Inovation and heritage will come together like never before when the Royal Navy's cutting-edge Wildcat maritime attack helicopter flies alongside the historic Swordfish torpedo bomber at this year's RNAS Yeovilton Air Day on 13 July. The pairing makes up just one of the spectacular and memorable flypasts being staged within Air Day's all-action flying display.
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Bulwark honours Battle of the Atlantic veterans23/05/2013
HMS Bulwark arrives in Liverpool today to join a host of other Royal Navy and foreign warships to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
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Trenchant completes record-breaking mission23/05/2013
HMS Trenchant returned home to Devonport yesterday – 11 months to the day she sailed on what became the longest patrol ever completed by one of the Royal Navy’s hunter-killer boats. Around 200 family members were waiting for the Trafalgar-class boat to return after 335 days away – 267 of them east of Suez.
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First Navy F35 pilot completes first month’s training23/05/2013
The Royal Navy’s first pilot of its next-generation jump jet has said it will give the nation’s future carriers an unrivalled striking power. After a month flying the F35B Lightning II – the most advanced stealth fighter in the world – Lieutenant Commander Ian Tidball has given the aircraft a glowing testimonial.
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HMS Lancaster due to leave Portsmouth for North Atlantic22/05/2013
Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster leaves Portsmouth on Tuesday 28 May for a six-month deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.
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